Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Condensed Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Midstream	$ 1,944,312	$ 1,791,288	$ 2,013,942
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(46)	(3,250)	0
Operating Costs and Expenses	150,858	130,882	111,778
General and Administrative Expense	79,993	65,083	55,516
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	140,285	162,300	125,358
Total operating costs and expenses	1,991,948	1,756,459	1,939,469
Operating income (loss)	(47,636)	34,829	74,473
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	1,600	5,054	707
Loss before non-controlling interest and income taxes	(122,849)	(43,382)	(4,047)
Income Tax Provision (Benefit)	10,214	6,642	2,768
Net loss	(112,635)	(36,740)	(1,279)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(82,999)	(24,259)	4,728
Net loss attributable to Crosstex Energy, Inc.	(29,636)	(12,481)	(6,007)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ (0.60)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.12)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ (0.60)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.12)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	47,664	47,384	47,150
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	47,664	47,384	47,150
Parent Company [Member]
Midstream	1,073	0	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	30,400	16,080	7,192
Operating Costs and Expenses	513	0	0
General and Administrative Expense	11,932	3,775	2,715
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction	185	0	0
Total operating costs and expenses	43,030	19,855	9,907
Operating income (loss)	(41,957)	(19,855)	(9,907)
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(407)	7	6
Loss before non-controlling interest and income taxes	(42,364)	(19,848)	(9,901)
Income Tax Provision (Benefit)	12,551	7,367	3,894
Net loss	(29,813)	(12,481)	(6,007)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(177)	0	0
Net loss attributable to Crosstex Energy, Inc.	$ (29,636)	$ (12,481)	$ (6,007)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ (0.60)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.12)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ (0.60)	$ (0.26)	$ (0.12)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	47,664	47,384	47,150
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	47,664	47,384	47,150